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Philippines: Impeached Estrada Finds Savior In The Marcos Family
by Kazi Mahmood
JAKARTA (IslamOnline) - Impeached by the senate, harassed by an opposition accusing him of all the ills of the Philippines, and attacked by Muslim separatists in a bloody war for independence, President Joseph Estrada found unexpected support from the former ruling family of the Philippines, the Marcoses.
Tagged as the most beautiful first lady in Philippine history by Estrada himself, Imelda Marcos led about 5,000 people in a Sunday rally backing the embattled president in Batac, Ilocos Norte.
The show of support from Imelda Marcos does not augur well for Estrada though, since the family of the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos has little political weight in the Philippines.
The Senate that approved the case against him and deliberated corruption charges this Monday, impeached Estrada.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to prepare the Articles of Impeachment against Estrada over allegations by Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson that he pocketed millions of dollars in payoffs from illegal gambling operators and tobacco tax kickbacks.
The articles are virtually certain to be sent to the Senate for a trial since more than the required 73 House members have signed a resolution backing the impeachment.
Estrada recently visited Ilocos Norte province, where he received support from Mrs. Marcos, Ferdinand’s widow, and two of her children in a rally in Batac, Ferdinand’s hometown.
The President's meeting with the Marcoses is expected to further alienate him from left wing and pro-democracy groups that are still opposed to the Marcosses having any influence in the country.
Imelda Marcos is well known for her collection of shoes and dresses which she bought on her numerous travels to Europe and the United States during the time her husband was president. She refused to part with the collection after the collapse of Marcos’s regime.
Imelda still wields influence in the Marcos’ family hometown.
Governor Ferdinand "Bongbong'' Marcos Jr., the late president's son, read a statement of support for Estrada, drawing loud applause from the crowd. Imelda, a former Leyte congresswoman, was wearing a white Philippine gown and sat on the stage near the President.
Estrada was visibly happy after facing weeks of protests in Manila and called Mrs. Marcos the most beautiful first lady in Philippine history.
"In times of crisis, you'll find out who your true friends are, and this was proven by Gov. Marcos,'' Estrada said.
An estimated 1.2 million Filipinos, mostly affiliated with the country's most influential religious groups - El Shaddai and Iglesia Ni Cristo, attended the Saturday rally at the Luneta Park. Both have supported Estrada since his election in 1998.
Last Thursday, the beleaguered president admitted Singson, a former drinking and gambling buddy who has accused him of receiving gambling payoffs and tobacco money had offered him a $4 million bribe. Estrada insisted, however, that he rejected the alleged bribe.
He said Singson insisted on delivering the money and even had a secretary give it to Estrada's lawyer, former undersecretary for political affairs Edward Serapio, without the President's knowledge.
The money was deposited in a bank account intended for Muslim youth scholars, Estrada said.
Critics of Estrada have said the Muslim Youth Foundation was a front used by the President to cover up payoffs.
Under Philippine law, public officials who "maliciously'' fail to report or pursue punishment of a crime such as bribery are subject to up to six years' imprisonment.
Opposition leader Isabela Rep. Heherson Alvarez indicated that they are almost certain about the ouster of the President, saying Estrada "dug his own grave" by admitting that $4 million from a dubious source was deposited in a bank account controlled by his lawyer and a brother-in-law.
"I think [former Chief] Justice [Andres] Narvasa is having a headache with what Estrada has said. He basically testified against himself," Alvarez noted.
The lawmaker also revealed that 115 congressmen have already signed the impeachment complaint.
"The pulse of the public is that Congress should take necessary steps because [the] evidence is clear," he said.
“We have indicted the President, now it is up to the house to start the trial,” opposition leader Villar said.
Alvarez, who is secretary-general of the opposition Lakas-NUCD, also confirmed that Estrada’s party, LAMP, holdouts in the House would throw everything in the way of the impeachment process to derail it.
Reuters said Estrada, a former movie actor, "appears almost certain to become the first Philippine president to be impeached."
"Barring last-minute ploys or lengthy speeches by pro-administration lawmakers, the 218-member House of Representatives is expected to vote to impeach Estrada on Monday and send the case to the Senate for trial which could begin later this month," the news agency said.
Joseph (Ejercito) Estrada, born on April 19, 1937, he studied grade school at Saint John's Academy in San Juan and finished high school at Mapua Institute.
The lure of the limelight prompted him to drop out the Polytechnic University during his early 20s.
It was through the movies that he earned his image as the hero of the masses. He became an icon of the action genre during the ‘60s and joined the FAMAS Hall of Fame in 1981.
In 1967, Estrada entered politics and was elected as mayor of San Juan, a post he held for 16 years. His service to San Juan was given merit when he was awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men for Public Administration award.
He ran for a senatorial seat in 1987 and won, landing in 17th place.
Estrada aimed high and eventually became Philippines vice president in 1992. He served the Ramos administration for the next five years as the chairman of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission.
By then, his popularity was insurmountable and his jokes won the confidence of the masses during elections in May 1998.
Joseph Estrada became the 13th President of the Republic of the Philippines.
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